Author Description

Product Description In The War of the Worlds (1898) H.G. Wells invented the myth of invasion from outer space. Martians land near London, conquering all before them and destroying the metropolis: the fate of civilization remains in doubt until the final pages. Disturbingly realistic and peopled with believablecharacters, the novel exemplifies the mixture of scientific scepticism and vivid imagination that made Wells the father of modern science fiction. From Library Journal This edition of Wells's much disguised attack on British imperialism includes a scholarly introduction, a biographical preface and chronology of the author's life, maps of the Martian landing sites, and explanatory notes. A lot of extras for the price.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. From the Back Cover In The War of the Worlds (1898) H. G. Wells invented the myth of invasion from outer space. Martians land near London, conquering all before them, and ruin the metropolis; the fate of civilization and even of the human race remains in doubt until the very last. The War of the Worlds is disturbingly realistic both because of its setting - Wells bicycled the route the Martians take on landing - and because of its characters: the superstitious curate, boastful artilleryman, and enterprising medical student are believable if not sympathetic figures, as well as signifying types of fin-de-siecle change and vision. The novel exemplifies most dramatically the scientific scepticism and vivid narrative imagination which make Wells the pre-eminent founder of modern science fiction. This edition offers explanatory notes on contemporary references, maps of London and its environs, and a stimulating introduction which examines the literary and social climate in which Wells lived.